The amount of information available through the websites of architects and interior designers, social media sites, online communities, blogs and reality shows gives consumers unprecedented access to the world of design. Add to that lifestyle retailers, and it appears we can assemble everything  we need to outfit a home, remodel it or even build it from the ground up. Even though statistical evidence shows that costs escalate as much as 40% compared to what it would cost if hiring a design professional, most DIYers would do it all over again.

DESIGNOSAURUS REX

There is also the reality that design professionals charge fees, and paying fees is like paying more taxes, it chips away some more at our hard earned money. An attorney, dentist, plumber or electrician also provide specialized services, which we need from time to time. Do you ever really need a design professional?

With tangible evidence to the contrary, why should you hire a design professional?

1. Peace of Mind.

Design professionals are specifically trained and experienced in matters of design and construction and will be able to guide you through the process. Ideally, you will work with a design professional from the time you are considering a construction, interior design or decorating project to the time the last picture is on the wall.

 

2. Innovation

Design education is a lifelong endeavor. A dedicated design professional will be able to bring state of the art concepts in to the fold.

 

3. Cost

A design professional will be able to evaluate costs and help spend your money wisely. Your budget will go further.

 

4. Resources

Design professionals come in contact with contractors, sub-contractors and vendors constantly, which yield access to the right people to do the job, or know where to find them.

 

5. Design IQ

The general public has access to well designed electronics, automobiles, fashions, etc. yet the bar for residential design is set quite low. Why not be as well educated about the quality of the spaces we live in as the features on our telephones?

 

6. Value added

A good design does not have to cost more to implement than a bad design. Yes, there are professional fees to add in to the mix, but prorated over the life of the project, the additional cost can be negligible.

 

7. Longevity

A good design will serve you better and last longer. Just take a look at Studio Santalla’s portfolio. Some of the projects shown here were done twelve years ago.

 

8. Stimulate the economy

It’s not just the retail and auto industry that need your support.

 

9. Make a Difference

New technologies geared towards sustainability, previously known as “green,” are being introduced at an unprecedented rate. It’s imperative that we honor the earth and treat it well. A competent design professional is implementing these technologies as they become available for the mass market.

 

10. Have Fun

Embarking on a design project should be fun. It’s your chance to get things you’ve wanted and needed in your life. The creative process you’ll experience is stimulating and energizing.

 

If advancing the state of the art is one of the goals of the design professional, who is there to hire us? Typically, it’s people in higher income brackets, which quite simply means that design innovation reaches the vast majority of people decades later, if ever.

For all of these reasons and more, design professionals are not dinosaurs. We are the fuel, not the fossils. And generally speaking, we don’t bite.

 

 

DID BARBIE GET HER DREAM HOUSE OR IS THIS A NIGHTMARE?